Mendoza and US roll at softball World Cup

USA Team member and Olympic gold medalist Jennie Finch warms up before a game against Japan in an World Cup of Softball game in Oklahoma City, Saturday, July 24, 2010. Finch announced that she will retire next month following this weeks World Cup of Softball games in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
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USA Team member and Olympic gold medalist Jennie Finch warms up before a game against Japan in an World Cup of Softball game in Oklahoma City, Saturday, July 24, 2010. Finch announced that she will retire next month following this weeks World Cup of Softball games in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
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Japan's Naoko Matsumoto slides into second and is out as USA's Natasha Watley throws to first during the fourth inning against Japan in an World Cup of Softball game in Oklahoma City, Saturday, July 24, 2010. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)— AP

Japan's Naoko Matsumoto slides into second and is out as USA's Natasha Watley throws to first during the fourth inning against Japan in an World Cup of Softball game in Oklahoma City, Saturday, July 24, 2010. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
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USA Team member Natasha Watley makes it to first base before Japan's Nayuri Yamane can catch the ball during the first inning in an World Cup of Softball game in Oklahoma City, Saturday, July 24, 2010. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)— AP

USA Team member Natasha Watley makes it to first base before Japan's Nayuri Yamane can catch the ball during the first inning in an World Cup of Softball game in Oklahoma City, Saturday, July 24, 2010. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
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OKLAHOMA CITY 
Monica Abbott feels a different vibe on the national team that has put the United States back atop the softball world. She calls it "serious with a smile."

Not many of the Americans' opponents are grinning these days, though.

Jessica Mendoza doubled twice and drove in four runs, Abbott threw a one-hitter and the U.S. beat rival Japan 8-0 Saturday night at the World Cup of Softball.

The Americans (4-0) have yet to allow a run or an extra-base hit in four victories at the World Cup, yielding only nine singles in 26 innings.

Abbott, who threw a two-hitter in the World Cup opener against Canada, allowed only Naoko Matsumoto's leadoff bloop single in the fourth that landed in front of a charging Kaitlin Cochran in right field. That followed a dominant performance by Eileen Canney, who threw a two-hitter in the national team's 1-0 victory against the USA Futures team earlier in the day.

And the scoreless stretch has come without ace Cat Osterman, who tore the biceps in her pitching arm in the Americans' victory in the world championship game against Japan three weeks ago.

"We're trying to be perfect," Abbott said. "We're trying to strive for excellence every time we go out there."

Abbott credited this year's strong performances to the team being a more fun-loving group that can stay loose on the field. The national team had an infusion of youth last year, with 10 rookies replacing the slew of veterans who retired after the Beijing Olympics. The sport won't be played in the Olympics for at least another decade, if ever.

"We're very serious still, don't get me wrong," Abbott said. "But we're serious with a smile. So don't be fooled by our beautiful faces, I guess."

Natasha Watley had an RBI single and scored three times and Cochran homered for the third time in as many days to end the game after six innings because of the mercy rule.

Jennie Finch, playing in her final international tournament, also drove in a run.

The Japanese (2-2) have been the Americans' top rival in recent years, beating the U.S. in the gold-medal game in the 2008 Olympics. But they're dealing with heavy roster turnover, too. Only four players who started in the gold-medal game were on the field for Japan on Saturday night. Most notably missing was Yukiko Ueno, the ace who's given the Americans fits in recent years.

Mendoza, who took last year off while pregnant with her first child, was involved in a collision at home before helping the U.S. pull away.

On Finch's bloop to shallow center that scored Watley, Mendoza slammed into catcher Yukiyo Mine, jarring the helmet off of Mine's head. She was able to hold onto the ball as her head crashed into the ground, and she stayed down for a few moments before being helped to the dugout.